Wildschönauer Schaubergwerk

Erlebnisbergwerk Lehenlahn

Useful Information

Location:	At Wildschönau. E60 exit Wörgl, turn right B171 to city center, turn left onto road to Wildschönau. In Wildschönau turn right to Thierbach. (47.430351, 11.973702)
Open:	Mid-JUN to SEP Fri-Sun 13-17. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 9, Children (6-15) EUR 4, Children (0-5) free. Groups (10+): Adults EUR 6. [2022]
Classification:	Silver Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Silberbergwerk Lehenlahn, Mühlhäusl, Auffach 310, 6311 Wildschönau, Tel: +43-664-1538686. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1790	beginn of mining.
1861	mine closed.
1991	opened as a show mine.

Description

This show mine is named Wildschönauer Schaubergwerk and is operated by the non-profit Verein of the same name. It offers various attractions, like the Medieval mining tunnels, information about the work and the life of the miners, displays with Gezähe (miners tools) and different mining technologies. Sometimes it is also listed as Erlebnisbergwerk Lehenlahn because there are also fairy tales for children. The mine tour emphasizes on entertainment, information about mining is only the backbone. But it has an impressive exhibition on Tyrolian minerals and semi precious gems, which was created by the famous mineral collector Walter Ungerank. It includes minerals like rock crystal, Zillertal garnet, malachite, azurite, and breunerite.

From about 1450 to 1861, the Wildschönau area was the easternmost part of the once world-famous Schwaz mining area. Schwaz is also a show mine which is located in the Inn valley, 20 km southwest. In this area there were numerous ore deposits and numerous small mines. So-called "Arzschnüffler" (ore sniffers) examined the mountains everywhere for usable ore. In the area between Schwaz and Wörgl up to 22,000 miners were searching for "Fahlerz" (silver and copper). The mines influenced the life of the valley inhabitants for 400 years.

In front of the mines, in makeshift huts, elderly people and children used Scheidhämmer (sledge hammers) to separate the heavy ore and the surrounding rock. Bigger mines had an Arzpocher (stamp mill) which was powered by a water wheel. Then the ore was brought in leather sacks from the mines to the furnaces in Brixlegg and Kundl (Kundler Ofen). The transport by sleigh during winter was easier and was preferred, but also porters, hand hoists, pack animals or horse-drawn carriages were used. For use in the smelting furnaces, charcoal burned in the Wildschönau was also delivered in the same manner.